Migrating from SBS 2000

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

troonm

2009-03-26 16:53:01 UTC

We have been running our domain on Windows Small Business Server 2000 since
2003. It is time to replace the hardware and I would like to move away from
SBS and just use Server 2008, and abandon Exchange. What things should I
consider when doing this type of migration. I would like to keep the SBS
around for a while longer, but eventually remove it completely. Until now
SBS has been the only Domain Controller. I would like to introduce Server
2008 into the domain and allow it to become a peer Domain controller. Can I
do this with SBS? Can SBS have multiple domain controllers? Is it as simple
as running Forest Prep and AD prep, exporting and importing dns and dhcp and
dcpromo. Can you recommend any documentation that I should look at. Thanks
very much for your time.

Best regards
Matt

Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]

2009-03-26 18:34:19 UTC

Permalink

Yes you can have multiple dc's but you can't have a 2008 dc in a 2000 domain.
So you'd have to have a 2003 dc first to grab everything, then go to 2008
why give up exchange?
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.

"troonm" <***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:11084950-D836-4B4D-8674-***@microsoft.com...
We have been running our domain on Windows Small Business Server 2000 since
2003. It is time to replace the hardware and I would like to move away from
SBS and just use Server 2008, and abandon Exchange. What things should I
consider when doing this type of migration. I would like to keep the SBS
around for a while longer, but eventually remove it completely. Until now
SBS has been the only Domain Controller. I would like to introduce Server
2008 into the domain and allow it to become a peer Domain controller. Can I
do this with SBS? Can SBS have multiple domain controllers? Is it as simple
as running Forest Prep and AD prep, exporting and importing dns and dhcp and
dcpromo. Can you recommend any documentation that I should look at. Thanks
very much for your time.

Best regards
Matt

SuperGumby [SBS MVP]

2009-03-26 18:56:20 UTC

Permalink

sure about that Cris? Though SBS08 is minimum 2003 AD functional level I'd
expect Server08 to be OK in a 2000 level AD.
--
SBS remote support services. (Fees apply)
mickm at mickmalloy dot dyndns dot org

"Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]" <***@cpunospamservices.net> wrote in
message news:%***@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
Yes you can have multiple dc's but you can't have a 2008 dc in a 2000
domain.
So you'd have to have a 2003 dc first to grab everything, then go to 2008
why give up exchange?
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.

"troonm" <***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:11084950-D836-4B4D-8674-***@microsoft.com...
We have been running our domain on Windows Small Business Server 2000
since
2003. It is time to replace the hardware and I would like to move away
from
SBS and just use Server 2008, and abandon Exchange. What things should I
consider when doing this type of migration. I would like to keep the SBS
around for a while longer, but eventually remove it completely. Until now
SBS has been the only Domain Controller. I would like to introduce Server
2008 into the domain and allow it to become a peer Domain controller. Can
I
do this with SBS? Can SBS have multiple domain controllers? Is it as
simple
as running Forest Prep and AD prep, exporting and importing dns and dhcp
and
dcpromo. Can you recommend any documentation that I should look at.
Thanks
very much for your time.

Best regards
Matt

Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]

2009-03-26 19:22:30 UTC

Permalink

I didn't read to be 100% but reasonably sure I've seen that somewhere...
I guess it's worth a google to be 100%
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.

"SuperGumby [SBS MVP]" <***@your.nellie> wrote in message news:%***@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
sure about that Cris? Though SBS08 is minimum 2003 AD functional level I'd
expect Server08 to be OK in a 2000 level AD.

--
SBS remote support services. (Fees apply)
mickm at mickmalloy dot dyndns dot org

"Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]" <***@cpunospamservices.net> wrote in
message news:%***@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
Yes you can have multiple dc's but you can't have a 2008 dc in a 2000
domain.
So you'd have to have a 2003 dc first to grab everything, then go to 2008
why give up exchange?

--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.

"troonm" <***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:11084950-D836-4B4D-8674-***@microsoft.com...
We have been running our domain on Windows Small Business Server 2000
since
2003. It is time to replace the hardware and I would like to move away
from
SBS and just use Server 2008, and abandon Exchange. What things should I
consider when doing this type of migration. I would like to keep the SBS
around for a while longer, but eventually remove it completely. Until now
SBS has been the only Domain Controller. I would like to introduce Server
2008 into the domain and allow it to become a peer Domain controller. Can
I
do this with SBS? Can SBS have multiple domain controllers? Is it as
simple
as running Forest Prep and AD prep, exporting and importing dns and dhcp
and
dcpromo. Can you recommend any documentation that I should look at.
Thanks
very much for your time.

Best regards
Matt

troonm

2009-03-26 21:07:02 UTC

Permalink

So can I dcpromo the 2008 server and then I will just have to remove the SBS
2000 from the domain? The 2008 can't be the FSMO if the SBS is there? I
will have to remove it? Does that sound correct?

Matt

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
I didn't read to be 100% but reasonably sure I've seen that somewhere...
I guess it's worth a google to be 100%
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.
sure about that Cris? Though SBS08 is minimum 2003 AD functional level I'd
expect Server08 to be OK in a 2000 level AD.
--
SBS remote support services. (Fees apply)
mickm at mickmalloy dot dyndns dot org
Yes you can have multiple dc's but you can't have a 2008 dc in a 2000 domain.
So you'd have to have a 2003 dc first to grab everything, then go to 2008
why give up exchange?
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.
We have been running our domain on Windows Small Business Server 2000 since
2003. It is time to replace the hardware and I would like to move away from
SBS and just use Server 2008, and abandon Exchange. What things should I
consider when doing this type of migration. I would like to keep the SBS
around for a while longer, but eventually remove it completely. Until now
SBS has been the only Domain Controller. I would like to introduce Server
2008 into the domain and allow it to become a peer Domain controller. Can I
do this with SBS? Can SBS have multiple domain controllers? Is it as simple
as running Forest Prep and AD prep, exporting and importing dns and dhcp and
dcpromo. Can you recommend any documentation that I should look at.
Thanks
very much for your time.
Best regards
Matt

Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]

2009-03-27 16:32:55 UTC

Permalink

you are correct, if SBS is in the network it must hold the FSMO roles
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.

"troonm" <***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:2943B589-346F-4975-A361-***@microsoft.com...
So can I dcpromo the 2008 server and then I will just have to remove the SBS
2000 from the domain? The 2008 can't be the FSMO if the SBS is there? I
will have to remove it? Does that sound correct?

Matt

troonm

2009-03-26 20:51:05 UTC

Permalink

thanks Cris, I'd like to give up Exchange mostly because I don't like the
responsiblity of backing up and restoring all of the email. I'd rather let
someone like Google host it and take care of backup and restore. Plus I
really like the features that Gmail and IMAP provides for our users.

Matt

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Yes you can have multiple dc's but you can't have a 2008 dc in a 2000 domain.
So you'd have to have a 2003 dc first to grab everything, then go to 2008
why give up exchange?
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.
We have been running our domain on Windows Small Business Server 2000 since
2003. It is time to replace the hardware and I would like to move away from
SBS and just use Server 2008, and abandon Exchange. What things should I
consider when doing this type of migration. I would like to keep the SBS
around for a while longer, but eventually remove it completely. Until now
SBS has been the only Domain Controller. I would like to introduce Server
2008 into the domain and allow it to become a peer Domain controller. Can I
do this with SBS? Can SBS have multiple domain controllers? Is it as simple
as running Forest Prep and AD prep, exporting and importing dns and dhcp and
dcpromo. Can you recommend any documentation that I should look at. Thanks
very much for your time.
Best regards
Matt

Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]

2009-03-26 21:04:51 UTC

Permalink

well it's unclear from your post if you are an IT consultant, or an employee also task with some IT work.

If it's the first...then I would suggest that there is no way that Gmail provides the same collaberation that SBS\Exchange can do. And exporting and importing mail during the upgrade is a piece of cake...probably one of the easier tasks.
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.

"troonm" <***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:19453732-AF18-4C3A-BCDF-***@microsoft.com...
thanks Cris, I'd like to give up Exchange mostly because I don't like the
responsiblity of backing up and restoring all of the email. I'd rather let
someone like Google host it and take care of backup and restore. Plus I
really like the features that Gmail and IMAP provides for our users.

Matt

troonm

2009-03-26 21:19:00 UTC

Permalink

Thanks Cris, no I'm definitly the "Jack of all trades" IT guy who's looking
at his aging SBS2000 hardware and hoping it will not fail before I'm able to
replace it. Just trying to understand as best I can the problems before I
start changing things. There are other reasons like potential branch offices
that make me want to get off of the SBS and on to just plain server.

Matt

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
well it's unclear from your post if you are an IT consultant, or an employee also task with some IT work.
If it's the first...then I would suggest that there is no way that Gmail provides the same collaberation that SBS\Exchange can do. And exporting and importing mail during the upgrade is a piece of cake...probably one of the easier tasks.
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.
thanks Cris, I'd like to give up Exchange mostly because I don't like the
responsiblity of backing up and restoring all of the email. I'd rather let
someone like Google host it and take care of backup and restore. Plus I
really like the features that Gmail and IMAP provides for our users.
Matt

Larry Struckmeyer [SBS-MVP]

2009-03-26 23:57:32 UTC

Permalink

Hi Matt:

If I may, I would like to suggest that you bring in a SBS consultant that
knows his stuff before you make this kind of a move. SBS has matured a lot
since 2000 and offers many more features than your currently experiencing.
Branch offices are handled pretty well, and the Remote Access features are a
joy unto themselves. With SBS 2008 you can spread the load, if you need SQL
to two boxes, and the backups are now to external hard drives as complete
images.

If it is the sheer size of your organization that causes you to consider
leaving SBS, look at EBS, a three or four server solution that allows for
many more users, upwards of 300.
--
Larry
Please post the resolution to your
issue so that others may benefit.

Post by troonm
Thanks Cris, no I'm definitly the "Jack of all trades" IT guy who's looking
at his aging SBS2000 hardware and hoping it will not fail before I'm able to
replace it. Just trying to understand as best I can the problems before I
start changing things. There are other reasons like potential branch offices
that make me want to get off of the SBS and on to just plain server.
Matt

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
well it's unclear from your post if you are an IT consultant, or an
employee also task with some IT work.
If it's the first...then I would suggest that there is no way that Gmail
provides the same collaberation that SBS\Exchange can do. And exporting
and importing mail during the upgrade is a piece of cake...probably one
of the easier tasks.
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.
thanks Cris, I'd like to give up Exchange mostly because I don't like the
responsiblity of backing up and restoring all of the email. I'd rather let
someone like Google host it and take care of backup and restore. Plus I
really like the features that Gmail and IMAP provides for our users.
Matt

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Yes you can have multiple dc's but you can't have a 2008 dc in a 2000

domain.

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
So you'd have to have a 2003 dc first to grab everything, then go to

2008

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
why give up exchange?
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.
We have been running our domain on Windows Small Business Server

2000 since

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
2003. It is time to replace the hardware and I would like to move

away from

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
SBS and just use Server 2008, and abandon Exchange. What things

should I

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
consider when doing this type of migration. I would like to keep

the SBS

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
around for a while longer, but eventually remove it completely.

Until now

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
SBS has been the only Domain Controller. I would like to introduce

Server

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
2008 into the domain and allow it to become a peer Domain

controller. Can I

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
do this with SBS? Can SBS have multiple domain controllers? Is it

as simple

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
as running Forest Prep and AD prep, exporting and importing dns and

dhcp and

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
dcpromo. Can you recommend any documentation that I should look

at. Thanks

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
very much for your time.
Best regards
Matt

troonm

2009-03-27 00:13:01 UTC

Permalink

Thanks very much for your advise Larry and Cris and SuperGumby, I'm definitly
trying to weigh all my options and understand all the problems as throughly
as I can before doing anything. I have to go for now, but look forward to
discussing this further. I'll write again soon. Thanks for your time.

Regards
Matt

Post by Larry Struckmeyer [SBS-MVP]
If I may, I would like to suggest that you bring in a SBS consultant that
knows his stuff before you make this kind of a move. SBS has matured a lot
since 2000 and offers many more features than your currently experiencing.
Branch offices are handled pretty well, and the Remote Access features are a
joy unto themselves. With SBS 2008 you can spread the load, if you need SQL
to two boxes, and the backups are now to external hard drives as complete
images.
If it is the sheer size of your organization that causes you to consider
leaving SBS, look at EBS, a three or four server solution that allows for
many more users, upwards of 300.
--
Larry
Please post the resolution to your
issue so that others may benefit.

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
well it's unclear from your post if you are an IT consultant, or an
employee also task with some IT work.
If it's the first...then I would suggest that there is no way that Gmail
provides the same collaberation that SBS\Exchange can do. And exporting
and importing mail during the upgrade is a piece of cake...probably one
of the easier tasks.
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1
Owner, CPU Services, Belleville, IL
A Microsoft Registered Partner
------------------------------------
MVPs do not work for Microsoft
Please do not submit questions directly to me.
thanks Cris, I'd like to give up Exchange mostly because I don't like the
responsiblity of backing up and restoring all of the email. I'd rather let
someone like Google host it and take care of backup and restore. Plus I
really like the features that Gmail and IMAP provides for our users.
Matt

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Yes you can have multiple dc's but you can't have a 2008 dc in a 2000

domain.

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
So you'd have to have a 2003 dc first to grab everything, then go to

2008

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
why give up exchange?
--
Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
Co-Contributor, Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Small-Business-Server-Unleashed/dp/0672329573/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217269967&sr=8-1

2000 since

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
2003. It is time to replace the hardware and I would like to move

away from

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
SBS and just use Server 2008, and abandon Exchange. What things

should I

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
consider when doing this type of migration. I would like to keep

the SBS

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
around for a while longer, but eventually remove it completely.

Until now

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
SBS has been the only Domain Controller. I would like to introduce

Server

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
2008 into the domain and allow it to become a peer Domain

controller. Can I

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
do this with SBS? Can SBS have multiple domain controllers? Is it

as simple

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
as running Forest Prep and AD prep, exporting and importing dns and

dhcp and

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
dcpromo. Can you recommend any documentation that I should look

at. Thanks

Post by Cris Hanna [SBS - MVP]
very much for your time.
Best regards
Matt